Volcano eruptions are both complex and exciting as they display a variety of eruption style depending on the form and the shape related to each type of volcano. Each characteristic has its own effect on the environment. Also, the volcanic activity level is determined by the volcano eruptions.

Sunday, May 15, 2005

More information on the Fernandina volcano eruption, in the Galapagos

A volcano spewed ash and lava onto part of the ecologically delicate Galapagos Islands on Friday, threatening to kill vegetation and some animals on the island of Fernandina, officials said."Evidently a lot of vegetation will be burned and some animals, especially iguanas, will die," Galapagos National Park Director Washington Tapia told Reuters. "But considering that Fernandina is the most pristine island of the archipelago, we don't have to worry much. This is a natural process," he said.No humans live on Fernandina, the westernmost island in the formation. The volcano, also called Fernandina, shot a column of ash and gas 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) into the air while lava descended its banks. The lava could reach the Pacific Ocean in five days, Tapia said. Sea lions, penguins and bullfinches also live on Fernandina.The most active volcano in the Galapagos, Fernandina has had between 20 and 22 eruptions since 1813. Ecuadorean authorities said they would not declare the island, which is formed mostly of lava, a disaster area. The eruption has not interrupted air traffic to and from the Galapagos, which were made famous by Charles Darwin, who studied the islands for 20 years before publishing "The Origin of Species by Natural Selection."In 1959, at the 100th anniversary of the publication of the book, the Galapagos Islands became Ecuador's first national park and the Charles Darwin Foundation was established to help preserve them.